Advent 2023 (Wk 4)

Back to Jerusalem
Job 19:25-27
 
25 “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.
26 “Even after my skin is destroyed,
Yet from my flesh I shall see God;
27 Whom I myself shall behold,
And whom my eyes will see and not another.
My heart faints within me!
 
 
 
What is Peace?
 
calm, no war, relaxing, — all of these things come to an end.
 
Let’s talk about a Peace that never ends.
 
What scares most people?    Death!
 
God wants us to know that there is something wonderful after death!
 
Redeemer – A person that pays for, trades for something.
 
Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins so that we could someday live in Heaven with Him!
 
Scriptures:
 
Matthew 18:1-7  The empty tomb
John 5:28-29    The dead will rise
John 5:24          If we believe in Jesus, we will be in Heaven one day
 
Jesus is with us.  He wants to be with us.
 
 

If you would like to see only the Time Machine lesson, click HERE.

 

If you would like to see the entire service, click HERE.

 
 

If you would like to see the evening Candlelight service, click HERE.

 

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Advent 2023 (Wk 2)

Setting Our Hope Anew on God

God So Loved the World

 
 
 
 
We can find out how much God loves us by reading in the Bible.

Jerry explaining the Cross & Manger

 
 
 
John 3:14-17
 

14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever a]believes will in Him have eternal life.

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His b]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
 
 
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness…
 
 
Cyndi shares the story of God’s people wandering in the wilderness.  They were disobedient.  He sent serpents to punish them.
 
Numbers 21:9
 
And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.
 
John 3:14
 
14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
 
John 8:28a
 
28 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He
 
John 3:15
 
15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
 
John 3:16
 
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His a]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
 
Do you know that God loves YOU this much?  Emmanuel means “God with us”!
 
Like the Grinch, our hearts can grow at Christmas.  We normally think of gifts at Christmas.  Every time you look at your Christmas tree, think about how God came to earth and was born a baby.
 
Jesus is the greatest gift ever given!
 
Pastor Jerry shared about this free gift.
 
 
 
 

If you would like to watch just the presentation on YouTube, click HERE.

 
 

If you would like to watch the entire service including the music worship, click HERE.

 

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Advent 2023 (Wk 1)

Setting Our Hope Anew on God

A Return to Bethlehem

 

The Kidz Zone Time Machine with Cyndi

 
 
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
 
Isaiah 9:6-7
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will a]rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
 
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:
Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son,
and she will call His name Immanuel.
 
 
Song:  Away in a Manger
Quotes from a version by Casting Crowns (verse 4)
 
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus, lay down His sweet head
Lord of all creation, lay down His sweet head
The Savior of the nation, lay down His sweet head
 
 
Luke 2:11
…for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
 
Romans 5:6-9
For while we were still helpless,
at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
For one will hardly die for a righteous man;
though perhaps for the good man
someone would dare even to die.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood,
we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
 

Cyndi & Jody sit with the children and share about the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth.

 
Come back next week to find out what happened next!
 
 

If you would like to watch this presentation on YouTube, click HERE.

 

If you prefer the entire service with music and announcements, etc., click HERE.

 
 
 
 

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Table of Blessings 2023

We gathered together on Sunday, November 26, 2023 to thank God for His many blessings.  Seven of our brothers and sisters shared some very specific events in their lives for which they were exceedingly grateful.  Watch as they share how God has seen them through times of hardship and sorrow, triumph and rejoicing.  God is unpredictable as to how He does it, but indeed He works all things for the good of those who love Him and whom He calls to His purpose! (Romans 8:28).
 
Below is a general outline and description of those who shared with us.  The time references are from the first video with just the sharing…
 

Host: Pastor Ken Durham

 

Matt and Emily Hurst (2:08)

Sometimes God brings into our lives things that are difficult to bare.  Change can be challenging, but God is good – and He means ALL FOR GOOD!  Our daughter has cystic fibrosis, we have gone through job changes, substance abuse in the family, and the death of a parent.  We are learning to forgive as we walk with Him.  Matt shared a meaningful quote from a book that he recently read:
 
They say of some temporal suffering,
“No future bliss can make up for it,”
not knowing that Heaven, once attained,
will work backwards and turn even that agony
into a glory.
– a quote from The Great Divorce (C.S. Lewis)
 

Deb Winters (15:36)

Deb shared about transitions in life such as retirement.  (Ecclesiastes 3:1)  We must remember God’s faithfulness.  He is with us through it all!  Prayer is so important in life.  When I truly trust God, He brings peace.  I often wondered how I could ever cope with retirement when I am a people-person.  Actually, transitions are nothing new – we experience them throughout life.  (Proverbs 3:5-6) We learn to trust as we keep turning to Him.  I find in retirement that there is more freedom with more time for relationships and for prayer!  I highly recommend retirement!
 

Tina Durham (26:08)

I, too, have gone through a big job change.  I have learned that God is in control.  It may take time, but He knows what we need.
 

Misty Watkins (27:57)

Losing a spouse is very difficult.  It takes time to learn how to live without them.  There are many changes that happen along the way, like changing jobs.  I have learned that God wants to be in the job with us.  Trust Him and share Him with others.  Pray!
 

John and Soozi Davisson (35:15)

(John 2:1-11, Psalm 76)  We are servants.  God chose us.  We want to be available. (2 Corinthians 6:1)  Yes, we too have experienced job change.  We have been considering adoption.  We have also been considering Samaritan’s Purse.  As we read in the book of John, we  learned that the servant’s job was to say, “Yes.”  They were to bring the water.  Jesus is the one who transforms our efforts. (2 Samuel 22:30)  When we are available and say, “Yes” – He provides what is needed!  “With my God, I can!”  We must remember that this is God’s story, not ours.  Consider the power of God’s word in our community.  (Psalm 23:3; Isaiah 55:10-11; Hebrews 10:20-25).  Lastly we would like to share a “pour-over” of God’s word with you… (Psalm 103).
 

Ken closes with song and prayer  (50:56)

Take the time to be thankful.  For your home, your family and for what God is doing in your life. 
 
 
 

If you would like to watch just the sharing portion of our service, Click HERE.

 

If you would like to watch the entire service including music, click HERE.

 
 
 
 

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Grow Strong in God’s Grace – Wk 29

Learning How to be a Faithful Farmer for God’s Harvest!

Reap a Harvest of Praise!

(Part 2 of 2 of Series Conclusion)

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NASB)

 

The full title of today’s sermon is, “Reap a harvest through the faithful strategy of a hardworking farmer.” Today, I am finishing our 2023 sermon series called, “Grow Strong in God’s Grace: Learning How to be a Faithful Famer for God’s Harvest!” Allow me to continue the conclusion of this sermon series, which I began on October 22. Listen to the poem, “How Great the Yield from a Fertile Field”:[1]

 

The farmer ploughs through the fields of green

And the blade of the plough is sharp and keen,

But the seed must be sown to bring forth grain.

For nothing is born without suffering and pain.

And God never ploughs in the soul of man

Without intention and purpose and plan,

So whenever you feel the plough’s sharp blade

Let not your heart be sorely afraid.

For, like the farmer, God chooses a field

From which He expects an excellent yield –

So rejoice though your heart is broken in two.

God seeks to bring forth a rich harvest in you.

 

How true this poem is, in each of our lives – “God never ploughs in the soul of man without intention and purpose and plan, so whenever you feel the plough’s sharp blade let not your heart be sorely afraid.” God’s intent for your life is that you would reap a harvest of praise to His glory. To participate with God’s work in us, we must follow the faithful strategy of the hardworking farmer. Paul taught in Philippians 2:12-13, “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” God is at work in us through His Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence. Hope in God’s work for us, and in us, is the key ingredient when following the four steps that every hard-working farmer must follow to experience a large crop yield:

 

  1. Cultivate the soil.
  2. Sow the good seed.
  3. Care for the maturing plant.
  4. Reap a harvest.

 

To be a fruit-bearing branch, we must maintain our focus on Jesus Christ, the vine through which all the life-giving nourishment of the Holy Spirit flows, as Jesus testified in John 15:1-5:

 

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

 

As hardworking farmers, abide in Jesus and He will bear much fruit upon your branch! As C. H. Spurgeon preached in 1871, “Preaching is sowing, prayer is watering, but praise is the harvest.”[2] It is my desire to see First Baptist Church of New Castle, Indiana witness a large crop yield of praise to the glory of God. That we will be an epicenter of revival. Until all worship, let us continue to be faithful to the Lord of the Harvest and respond to His call upon our lives to be hard-working farmers!

 

As we learned in part 1 of the conclusion, the faith stories of God’s people summarized in Hebrews 11 inform our lives and our lifestyles by calling us to live according to Hebrews 12:1-3:

 

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

Let’s take a couple of minutes to review Hebrew 11, and the lessons from the transforming stories of faith we have learned this year. Learn from these men and women of faith how you can be a witness to the transforming power of faith in your life. This is the faith we get to live when we are set free from sin to live with our eyes on Jesus:

 

  • a faith, which pleases God.
  • a faith, which gives substance to your life.
  • a faith, which trusts God’s promises.
  • a faith, which bears fruit.
  • a faith, which passes the test.
  • a faith, which blesses the next generation.
  • a faith, which gives us a limp.
  • a faith, which lifts us out of the pits.
  • a faith, which makes us humble.
  • a faith, which toots God’s horn.
  • a faith, which saves the day.
  • a faith, which takes God at His Word.
  • a faith, which invites partnership.
  • a faith, which invites us to be weak.
  • a faith, which overcomes obstacles.
  • a faith, which demonstrates God’s own heart.
  • a faith, which listens and obeys.
  • a faith, which calls people home.

 

If you minimize the Bible to a moralistic rule book filled with one-dimensional people, then you miss God’s extravagant love and scandalous grace. If you miss love and grace, then you miss Jesus, who is the only way to know the Father (John 14:6). Jesus didn’t die on the cross so that you can make a good human effort at living according to the Ten Commandments, doing and saying all the right things by your own strength. Jesus did not die on the cross so that you can go around living a good moralistic life and be filled with pride and self-righteousness. Jesus died on the cross so that you could be free from sin to love others as God first loved you; not to earn anything, but from the fertile field of a transformed heart.

 

Working hard, like a faithful farmer, we are to strive to be like Him and like those who have come before us to show us the way of faith – the great cloud of witnesses. Jesus gives us our right standing by grace – a relationship with God that comes with the responsibilities of righteousness. As Paul taught in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” This is our calling; we have been made new by His love to join with Jesus in His ministry of love to reconcile all people to Him. Listen to Paul explain this in 2 Corinthians 5:17-20:

 

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

 

Does your life tell the story of Jesus Christ and how He is seeking to transform stories through His gospel of love and grace? You are being invited into the next class of the great cloud of witnesses. Until the Day you are inducted into the great cloud of witnesses and join with the saints that we have learned about in this sermon series, you are called to “not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3). No matter the struggle, and the fight is real, we are to keep our eyes on Jesus, just as He told a better story with His life and death – “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

 

When all our stories point to Jesus Christ as the main character of each of our stories, then we will find unity in the body of Christ, and each of us will mature so that the entire body will be built up on love (Ephesians 4:11-16). Jesus is the only Hero of this story! Paul testified to this in 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, and I conclude with this appeal:

 

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field….

 

Today, God is calling to you, choosing you, extending His love to you. Trust Him today and experience the joy of why Christ endured the cross and despised the shame. For the joy set before you, live strong in God’s grace and reap a harvest of praise to the glory of God. Never forget, that what we do in this life is a witness to what Christ did to give us the life we live, once for all.

 

What does your transforming story of faith look like? Jesus is interceding for you at the right hand of the Father, so do not grow weary and do not lose heart. Go from this place telling a better story, His Story, the transforming story of God’s grace, and together we will see our communities thriving to the glory of God!

 

 
 

If you would like to watch Pastor Jerry present this message, Click HERE.

 

If you would like to watch the entire service including music, click HERE.

 
 
 
 

FOOTNOTES:

 

[1] Written by Helen Stiner Rice. This poem was reproduced from the memorial folder for Avon Dwight “Scotty” Scott, an Indiana dairy farmer (February 5, 1929 – October 28, 2023). His daughter, Delora Hartsock, found this poem in his hymnal along with instructions for his funeral. I had the honor of doing his services on Saturday, November 4; he was a faithful follower of Jesus and a Korean War veteran.

 

[2] C. H. Spurgeon, “The Joy of the Lord, the Strength of His People,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 17 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1871), 717.
 
 
 

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Unity in the Body of Christ!

A Special Message

The Journey to 2030:

Unity in the Body of Christ!

Ephesians 4:1-16

 
 

“FBC desires to see communities thriving to the glory of God.”

 

FBC’s vision is a statement that expresses what we hope to see happen in and through our congregation as we accomplish our mission. Our mission is “FBC exists to transform stories through the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Today, as we prepare to vote on our new bylaws that are designed to empower you as the congregation to fulfill the vision with as little red tape as possible, I invite you to be a part of the Journey to 2030 – to live on mission by actively walking with Jesus Christ as He transforms you through His gospel.

 

“FBC desires to see communities thriving to the glory of God.”

 

Thriving is another word for human flourishing, As Christians, this is the promised abundant life or fullness of life that Jesus promised His followers in John 10:10 – “real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of” (The Message). It is the desire of the leaders of FBC to create an atmosphere/culture at FBC that facilitates your journey that experiences a transformation through the gospel of Jesus, which brings about this promise in your life. How can you bring thriving to our communities if you are not first experiencing a closer walk with Jesus Christ, the life of discipleship, for yourself.

 

We call you to the journey of experiencing the fullness of joy that Jesus promises each one of you, members of His one body. We understand that the Holy Spirit is the One transforming our stories as walk with Jesus; it’s a faithful journey to the destination of Christlikeness. It’s not always a straight journey, and it can be messy, but we must remain focused – eyes on Jesus!

 

In creating an atmosphere/culture of transformation for your journey, the leaders of FBC desire to, prayerfully (according to Acts 6:4), preach and teach clearly what it means for each of us (individually and collectively) to live as disciples of Jesus Christ so that we each can ensure we are heading in the right direction – intentionally becoming like Him in word and deed.

 

This will include what we provide, or partner with, for people on Sunday mornings (during Sunday school hour and in service) and Wednesday nights (youth, children, and adult programming available at the church), as well as what is available to you throughout the week in Bible studies and ministry gatherings.

 

The goal of such teaching is for each of us to have the mind of Christ and to know the will of God according to Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” This transformation is necessary for us to be actively engaged in the mission of God, to which Jesus calls all His followers to participate in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

 

Apart from our stories being transformed through the gospel of Jesus Christ we cannot be on the Journey with Jesus. This is a personal journey of discipleship, but it is never private; it is a call to the refreshing work of the Holy Spirit through the great community, called the church. As the leaders of FBC, we desire to empower both the individual and the corporate body, according to the teaching of the Body of Christ in the New Testament (i.e. Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12; and Ephesians 4).

 

Let’s read Ephesians 4:1-16. I’ll make a few comments, then call you to make some commitments as members of the one body of Christ.

 

There are two ways the force is structured in the US Army: conventional and unconventional. The conventional force has a heavy top-down approach, where no one moves, from top to bottom, without the top first passing down the order that had to move its way down the chain of command. The assumptions of this model are not complementary to the soldiers or their ability to innovate and adapt on their own. Unfortunately, most of the Army is structured this way.

 

The church is not intended to look this way! We are more like the unconventional forces of the army’s special forces and special operations communities, who empower every solider as a highly trained team member who can accomplish the mission without a lot of oversight. They are given a mission to accomplish, then entrusted with team leadership, to accomplish it in their specific areas of operation, as they have been chosen, trained, and sent to do. This is how the church is called to function, not only with Jesus, our Commander, giving us the Great Commission, and entrusting every congregation in every community of every nation to spring up and get the mission done in ways that are right and true to their time and location, but this is also true of every congregation, as the pastors and leaders empower the people to get the mission done in ways that are right and true to your household, neighborhood, and workplace.

 

We must structure ourselves to empower you, the soldiers of Jesus who have been chosen, need to be trained, and are being sent to live your life on mission for Jesus.

 

  • The Church Cabinet will consist of Pastoral Staff, Elders, Deacons/Deaconesses, Moderator, and Clerk. The Church Cabinet convenes on a regular basis to assure that those in positions of congregational authority are being faithful to the mission, vision, faith statement and core values of the church.
  • The Elders provide spiritual formation and accountability to the pastoral staff of the church. They work together to create a congregational culture that prioritizes the mission and vision of First Baptist Church according to our faith statement and core values.
  • The Deacons/Deaconesses are the servants of the church, leading the work of ministry in First Baptist Church. Deacons are affirmed/appointed to their positions based upon their calling to their area of service.
  • The Moderator chairs the Church Cabinet, conducts Congregational Meetings, and works closely with the lead pastor to liaise between the congregation and staff.

 

All areas of ministry (and their teams) are directly accountable to a member of the cabinet. The reason we have this structure at FBC is empower you, the priesthood of all believers, to live on mission, the good fruit of your life of discipleship. In the words of Jesus, for you as a good tree to bear good fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). We want to minimize meetings and red tape, so that you can be equipped, encouraged, and empowered to live for Jesus, on mission for God!

 

Therefore, I call you to the following six membership commitments to ensure the unity of the body of Christ while so that we can function as God intended, sending you out as an unconventional force of elite special forces soldiers. We gather to scatter!

 

  1. I commit to being a loving member where I see membership as a call to godly living and relationships. I will:
    1. Uphold biblical standards in my own life and in relationship with my brothers and sisters, according to Matthew 18.
    2. Prioritize greater spiritual, emotional, physical, and relational health with God, self, family, and others.

 

  1. I commit to being a healthy member where I see membership as a part of God’s plan for my life (John 13:35). I will be a source of:
    1. Unity, not division, knowing that none of us, including leadership, are perfect.
    2. Mercy and grace, not gossip and dissension.

 

  1. I commit to being a praying member where I see prayer as my Christian responsibility to fulfill Jesus’ prayer in John 17. I will discipline my life to pray daily for the body of Christ including:
    1. Pastors and leaders
    2. Ministries & missions
    3. Families & community
    4. The worldwide church throughout all nations

 

  1. I commit to being a serving member where I see membership as an opportunity to visibly live a life of sacrificial service (Philippians 2:5-11). I will:
    1. Serve the church and its membership.
    2. Actively live a life of ministry and mission through the guidance and power the Holy Spirit in my day-to-day life.

 

  1. I commit to being a functional member where I see membership according to the Bible’s teaching (1 Corinthians 12 – 14).  I will demonstrate this in the following ways:
    1. Active participation in a discipleship group.
    2. Service in ministry.
    3. Biblical financial partnership.
    4. Witness for Christ to the community.

 

  1. I will be a committed member where I see membership in the body of Christ as a privilege that comes with responsibilities.  I recognize the church will only be healthy and grow when I am doing my part; therefore, I will:
    1. Learn about and use my spiritual gifts to build the body of Christ (Ephesians 4).
    2. Display the fruit of the Spirit to our community and beyond (Galatians 5:22-23).

 

I am going to be focusing on discipleship; providing “pathways of grace” for you to grow in godliness (Christlikeness). May your life bear the good fruit of a transformed life through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thriving is more than an understanding of what is God’s best for my life, the church, and surrounding community, it is a call to full participation in that life through our 7 big words, on the banners behind you: gather, follow, rest, belong, love, service, and go. It is seeing our four core values, posted right here on the wall to my left, come alive in you.

 

We all have very little space on our calendars available, just as we all have more demands on our money, so we want to invite you to choose pathways of grace that will help you thrive and that will bring thriving to our communities through your unique contributions. 

 

I want to conclude with a thought I read a while back, “Our lives seem too crowded – too busy, we might say, were it not that after long hours of work we let entertainment and various addictions gobble up a good portion of the remaining time – to allow us to give sustained attention to the challenge of discerning the life truly worth living…It’s not just that we don’t know how to live meaningful lives. We don’t even seem to be able to focus for very long on the question” (source unknown).

 

The leaders of FBC want to help you focus on the abundant life of Jesus Christ; we invite you participate in the work of Jesus Christ to bring about your transformation, but we know that can only happen through your submission to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. Jesus calls that His “easy yoke” (Matthew 11:28-30).

 

We invite you to join us on FBC’s Journey to 2030. To get out of the heavy yoke of the world and its definitions of thriving and to get into Jesus’ easy yoke and to walk with Him, in His way. We know it’s going to take a long time, but we are committed to the process of transformation that God will do in us and through us as we learn, step-by-step, to be about our Father’s Work in His Harvest fields.

 

May Jesus lead us on FBC’s Journey to 2030! To God alone be the Glory!

 
 
 

If you would like to watch Pastor Jerry present this message, Click HERE.

 

If you would like to watch the entire service including music, click HERE.

 
 

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On Mission

On Mission

 
 

Today is the International Day of Prayer

 
 
Video: What is Missions?
Luke 10:2-3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Heart of Missions is to take the Gospel to those who have never heard it.

 

Romans 10:8-15

Matthew 28:18-20

John 17:17-18

John 20:21 “I am sending you…”

 

Charles Spurgeon Quote:

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We share the BAD NEWS and the GOOD NEWS:

 

 
 

 

 

 

Video Short: Share Your Testimony – Tim Hawkins

 

Every testimony is a miracle!

Revelation 12:10-11

It’s all about the one who makes the miracle and makes it powerful!

 

Testimony: Elijah Abrams
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serving & Meeting Needs

Examples of ways / places you can serve.

They provide great opportunities in which you can share the Gospel.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
He may call you to give up of your time, hobbies, rest, home, everything familiar…

He will call you out of your comfort zone.

There is a cost to following Jesus.
 
 
 
When we say yes, He blesses.
 
 

Story: John & David who were willing to commit, to give up their freedom in order to share the Gospel with others. They were called. They were passionate for Jesus!

“May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering.”

Jesus is the Lamb that was slain. Our lives are the reward for His suffering.

 
 
 

If you would like to watch Keven present this message, Click HERE.

 

If you would like to watch the entire service including music, click HERE.

 

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Proclamation, Preparation & Positioning

Proclamation, Preparation & Positioning

Deuteronomy 32:2-4; Ephesians 5:15-19; Philippians 4:5-9

 

 

 

Today is going to be a different type of Sunday. We are starting the service with each point of the message being reinforced with our worship in song. For those taking notes, the three key points are 1) Proclamation; 2) Preparation; and 3) Positioning. These three “P’s” will help us in both our prayers and our praise.

 

I. PROCLAMATION: Moses told the people of Israel

 
Deuteronomy 32:2-4:
 

“Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew. Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants. I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God! He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!”

 

When we proclaim something, we are making it known to those around us. When we pray, we are to proclaim who God is to us. When we sing our praises, we are to lift our voices and proclaim the goodness and the greatness of our God. In Psalm 71:19-19, the psalmist David writes:

O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me. Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God?

 

He also writes in Psalm 105:1-2:

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.”

 

And then in Psalm 145:4-7, we are told to:

Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness.”

 

Finally, we are encouraged by John, the beloved disciple in 1 John 1:1-2:

“We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us.”

 

So, as we prepare to lift our voices in worship, remember we are all to proclaim praise to the One Who was, Who is, and Who always will be.

Worship in Song 1: Living Hope, Goodness of God, Trust in God

 
 

II. Preparation: Preparation is important for both heart and mind.

 

QUOTE: “Proper preparation prevents poor performance.”

 

A. Preparing the heart.
 
1. Confession is where it starts.
 

1 John 1:9:

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
 
2. We have to clean house of the things that affect our heart.
 

Ephesians 5:15-19: So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.”

 

*Previous verses warned us not to live like we used to, because we are to live our lives to please God.

 

B. Preparing the mind: A Call for holy living: 1 Peter 1:13

 

“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.”

 

Currently, mental health has become a hot topic. We need to realize that the battle of the mind is something that has been a part of human struggle for a long time, especially when it comes to spiritual matters. Moses, King David, the prophet Elijah and Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi are just a few examples of those who battled some form of mental illness and the Bible records their struggles. As we face issues like work-related stress, seasonal depression or even chemical imbalance, there may be some that requires that require medical assistance. This is not a bad thing! That is why we have the medical professionals to help in these times.

 

However, we are also told in scriptures to bring everything to Jesus. 1 Peter 5:7 states:

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

 

AND…we are to care for one another. Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 12:25:

“This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.”

 

This is not an either/or thing, but rather a both/and. We as the church are to be here to help one another as we see Christ transforming people’s lives and their stories. BUT, it is also important that each person take responsibility to turn EVERYTHING over to God by preparing our hearts and our minds.

 

Worship in Song 2: Lavish, Who You Say I Am

 

III. Positioning: Surrendering our wants and desires

 
A. What Christ did for you and me: Philippians 2:6-8:

 

“Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
 
B.What we are to do for Him: 1 Peter 5:6-10
 
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”
 

 

“Christ demands first place. There’s no room on the throne of your heart for two gods.”

– Billy Graham
 
This is something that you must do for yourself, because I cannot. HOWEVER, I can hold you accountable, which is what I am doing today!

 

Philippians 4:5-7:

“Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

 

I want to close out the service with a response time. Coming to the altar is not a sign that you have done something, but rather you making a public demonstration of presenting yourself as a living sacrifice, making sure that your sacrifice is still on the altar! Position yourself with a fresh surrender.

 

Worship Set 3: Hold On to Me, It is Well with My Soul

 

 

If you would like to watch the service in its entirety with the music, click HERE.

If you would like to watch just the message, click HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Read more...

Grow Strong in God’s Grace – Wk 28

Learning How to be a Faithful Farmer for God’s Harvest!

A Life that Witnesses to the Transformative Power of Faith!

(Part 1 of 2 of Series Conclusion)

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NASB)

 

Today, I am going to begin the conclusion of our sermon series. This will be a 2-part conclusion, based on Hebrews 12:1-3, which provides a fitting conclusion to the stories of triumphant faith found in Hebrews 11. Never forget that these men and women found approval from God through their faith. They were not perfect people, and I don’t think that they would want us to consider them “heroes of the faith,” because they were real people with real faith in real history. They would all make one thing very clear: God is the only hero! Our lives have the power to point to His story when we live by faith, trusting God to be the author and finisher of all stories. Hebrews 12:1-3 is the rightful conclusion to Hebrews 11 [the chapter break is an unfortunate interruption] by teaching us to look to the One who did live a perfect life, showing us the way to live a life that witnesses to the transformative power of faith. Jesus is the only One worthy to be consider a Hero of the Story. I invite you to open your pew Bible to page 1088, or your own Bible to Hebrews 12:1-3; listen now to the Word of God:

 

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

If you started reading your Bible in Hebrews 12, you would automatically ask yourself, “Who are the people in this ‘so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us’?” The answer to this question is found in Hebrews 11, so let’s review the inaugural class of the great cloud of witnesses, and see what we have learned from each of them over the last 6 months of sermons:

 

  • Abel and Enoch taught us how faith pleases God (4-6).
  • Noah taught us how faith gives substance to your life (7).
  • Abraham taught us how faith trusts God’s promises (8-10).
  • Sarah taught us how faith bears fruit (11-12).
  • Abraham taught us how can pass the test of faith (17-19).
  • Isaac taught us how faith blesses the next generation (20).
  • Jacob taught us how faith gives us a limp (21).
  • Joseph taught us how faith lifts us out of the pits (22).
  • Moses taught us how faith makes us humble (23-29).
  • Joshua taught us how faith toots God’s horn (30).
  • Rahab taught us how faith saves the day (31).
  • Gideon taught us how faith takes God at His Word (32-40).
  • Barak taught us how faith invites partnership (32-40).
  • Samson taught us how faith invites us to be weak (32-40).
  • Jephthah taught us how faith overcomes obstacles (32-40).
  • David taught us the faith of a person after God’s own heart (32-40).
  • Samuel taught us how faith listens and obeys (32-40).
  • The prophets taught us how faith calls people home (32-40).
  • In verses 33-40, other members of the inaugural class of the great cloud of witnesses are alluded to, various judges, kings, and prophets of Israel’s history, but specifically Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, Elisha, Uriah, Zechariah, and possibly even foreshadows of John the Baptist and others found in the New Testament.

 

The emphasis of Hebrew 11 is faith. Each of these people had a relationship with God. How they believed not only affected their own lives, but each of their stories sent a ripple effect through history. That’s the power of faith! There is an important pattern found between the transforming stories of faith, found in Hebrews 11, and the exhortation of Hebrews 12:1-3. It is the biblical rhythm of “indicative-imperative,” simply meaning, “IF you believe this about God (the indicative about faith), THEN live this way (the imperative of faith).” This is what it means to believe; there is no false dichotomy between the indicative and the imperative.

 

Hebrews 12 starts with a “therefore” and the common thing you do when you see a “therefore” in Scripture is to ask yourself, “What is it there for?” Don’t devoid God’s commands of their meaning, nor reject the grace being extended to you, by just reading what comes next. Instead, go back and see what the Bible teaches you (the indicative of the imperative). In the Bible, God’s grace (His choosing) always precedes the call of obedience (God’s divine demands upon His children); in other words, “Relationship comes before responsibilities!” If you don’t get this, you can easily become a legalistic Christian (works-based religion), insecure and unstable because your focus is on your own ability to obey the commands of God. If you give yourself to this misapplication of Scripture (imperatives devoid of indicatives, or responsibilities without relationship), then all your effort will miss the mark and you will not know the heart of God. How can any righteous act please God if it is lacking love? Hebrews 11:6 teaches this clearly, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

 

God does not call you to strive for acceptance through your own efforts; rather, He invites you to rest in His relationship with you. It is only by grace that you are even in a relationship with Him, nevertheless, able to live according to His divine responsibilities as a member of His family. Allow me to be clear, grace is not opposed to the effort you put into your relationship, but grace is opposed to merit – you think you can earn anything by your efforts. Hebrews 12:1-3 transitions from the previous chapter’s descriptions of faith to the responsibilities of faith. Hebrews 12 leans heavily on the faith relationship between God and His children. We have been investing these last six months to truly know the heart of God; to know He is good and that we can trust Him in all our circumstances. Who was the God of these people? What does it look like to live by faith; to believe? How does God transform stories through a faith relationship with Him? Can I grow strong in God’s grace and reap a harvest of praise to the glory of God?

 

God calls by grace – you are His by His loving choice! Relationship precedes but does not preclude responsibilities. We see this best illustrated for us in the most ancient of places: the Ten Commandments (the Decalogue). For many, it is whitewashed as moral decrees to be obeyed to be found acceptable in God’s eyes. But I want to illuminate the most important part of the Ten Commandments; it is the word of grace that comes before the responsibilities of relationship. What is the first thing God declares in Exodus 20 before launching into His covenantal expectations? In Exodus 20:2, God says, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” This is a word of grace where God is saying, “I chose you! I rescued you from slavery and death, not because you deserved it, but because I love you! Therefore, as my dearly beloved children, follow these 10 commandments and you will grow strong in grace (our relationship), bearing the good fruit of my grace, living in such a way that proves to the world that you belong to me!” Do you see the indicative-imperative pattern? Never forget that every promise of God comes with a praxis to live.

 

God has established your identity in Him, now live like it! This is the teaching of the fruit-bearing branch abiding in the vine of Jesus Christ, found in John 15:7-11, and 16:

 

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. … You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

 

This is who you are, as the beloved of Jesus taught in 1 John 3:1-3:

 

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

 

Do you remember the first time you were chosen for something? Maybe it was a glance across the classroom, the request for a dance, the acceptance to a college, the selection for promotion at work, or the diamond engagement ring. How did that make you feel?

 

Being chosen changes everything! Grace changes everything! Let us grow strong in God’s grace today so that we may witness to the world the transformative power of faith! How? By extending the same grace to others, just as Jesus commanded a new command in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

How do you witness to the transformative power of faith in your everyday life?

 

  • When you give generously without thought of getting anything in return.
  • When you love for the benefit of the other and not for yourself.
  • When you forgive a debt.
  • When you invite someone to go for a walk or to sit around the fire together.
  • Whenever you break bread with some around table fellowship.
  • When you send a card, make a phone call, send a text of encouragement.
  • When you make a visit or deliver a meal.

 

I try to teach my children to give good gifts; not to give away something they don’t need or want, but to give their very best. Love doesn’t give spare change; it gives the best of the first fruits. This is the principle behind how we give back to God. All things come from Him and all that we have is His; we are not giving anything to Him, we are returning it to Him because He is the source of abundance! Love doesn’t keep its commitment just when it feels good, because it’s easy, or because it’s reciprocated; love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7).

 

The faith stories of God’s people summarized in Hebrews 11 inform our lives and our lifestyles by calling us to live according to Hebrews 12:1-3:

 

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

Paul echoed this in Philippians 2:1-4:

 

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. [5-11 then give the example of Jesus in the Christ Hymn]

 

Take the next month and review Hebrew 11, and the lessons from the transforming stories of faith we have learned this last six months. Learn from these men and women of faith how you can be a witness to the transformative power of faith in your life. This is the faith we get to live when we are set free from sin to live with our eyes on Jesus:

 

  • a faith, which pleases God.
  • a faith, which gives substance to your life.
  • a faith, which trusts God’s promises.
  • a faith, which bears fruit.
  • a faith, which passes the test.
  • a faith, which blesses the next generation.
  • a faith, which gives us a limp.
  • a faith, which lifts us out of the pits.
  • a faith, which makes us humble.
  • a faith, which toots God’s horn.
  • a faith, which saves the day.
  • a faith, which takes God at His Word.
  • a faith, which invites partnership.
  • a faith, which invites us to be weak.
  • a faith, which overcomes obstacles.
  • a faith, which demonstrates God’s own heart.
  • a faith, which listens and obeys.
  • a faith, which calls people home.

 

If you minimize the Bible to a moralistic rule book filled with one-dimensional people, then you miss God’s extravagant love and scandalous grace. If you miss love and grace, then you miss Jesus, who is the only way to know the Father (John 14:6). Jesus didn’t die on the cross so that you can make a good human effort at living according to the Ten Commandments, doing and saying all the right things by your own strength. Jesus did not die on the Cross so that you can go around living a good moralistic life and be filled with pride and self-righteousness. Jesus died on the Cross so that you could be free from sin to love others as God first loved you; not to earn anything, but from of a transformed heart, striving to be like Him and like those who have come before us to show us the way of faith – the great cloud of witnesses. Jesus gives us our right standing by grace – a relationship with God that comes with the responsibilities of righteousness! As Paul taught in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” This is our calling; we have been made new by His love to join with Jesus in His ministry of love to reconcile all people to Him (2 Corinthians 5:17-20).

 

In your story, as in every story, grace matters! Do you remember when God chose you?

 

Today, God is calling to you, choosing you, extending His love to you. Trust Him today and experience the joy of why Christ endured the cross and despised the shame. For the joy set before you, live strong in God’s grace and reap a harvest of praise to the glory of God. Never forget, that what we do in this life is a witness to what Christ did to give us the life we live, once for all!

 

What does your transforming story of faith look like? Jesus is interceding for you at the right hand of the Father, so do not grow weary and do not lose heart!

 

YOU CAN LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE BY CLICKING HERE.

 
 

In part 2 of the conclusion, schedule for November 19, we will learn how we can be inducted into the next class of the great cloud of witnesses. Live strong in God’s grace today by applying the faithful strategy of the hardworking farmer!

 
 
 
 
 

Read more...

Grow Strong in God’s Grace – Wk 27

Learning How to be a Faithful Farmer for God’s Harvest!

A Faith that Calls People Home!

Hebrews 11:32-40 (NASB)

 

 

God is in the business of transforming stories through the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to grow strong in God’s grace as active participants in the world He created. God has entrusted His creation to His people to work as His Harvest workers – “All the world’s a field, and all the disciples of Jesus Christ merely farmers!” Therefore, let’s be faithful farmers by following the four-step strategy of a hard-working farmer: 1) cultivate people with faith; 2) sow the good seed of God’s grace (the gospel) into their hearts and minds; 3) care for them as their stories are transformed into fruit-bearing plants; and 4) reap a harvest of praise as the church of Jesus Christ. This strategy must be empowered by the Holy Spirit because apart from God we cannot bear any good fruit (John 15:5). Therefore, harvest workers of God’s kingdom are called to grow strong in God’s grace. Let’s take the first step by learning from the transforming stories of the Hall of Faith, found in Hebrews 11.

 

STEP #1 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: CULTIVATE THE SOIL WITH FAITH

 

Today’s story is about the prophets of God, who are named explicitly as an office, and then many of their number are alluded to in Hebrews 11:32-40:

 

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions [the prophet Daniel in Daniel 6], quenched the power of fire [the prophet Daniel’s entourage of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in Daniel 3], escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong [Hezekiah recovered from sickness by the Word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 38], became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection [the prophet Elijah with the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17 and the prophet Elisha with the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4]; and others were tortured [the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 20], not accepting their release [the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 40], so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned [Stephen in Acts 7], they were sawn in two [the tradition of the prophet Isaiah’s death by King Manasseh], they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword [the prophet Uriah in Jeremiah 26]; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins [Elijah, Zechariah, and John the Baptist], being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. [emphasis added]

 

The prophets are found throughout the Bible, as I briefly illustrated in the above passage. An excellent definition of a prophet is “a person inspired to proclaim or reveal divine will or purpose.”[1] I prefer this definition because it is inclusive to both forthtelling and foretelling. Today, a prophet is often, and wrongly, limited to the activity of divinely forecasting the future (foretelling), but there is so much more to it – prophecy is a calling forth of God’s will in a specific time and place, with a divine purpose in mind. When done properly, preaching is a prophetic work of the Spirit, in the forthtelling way, regardless of whether there is foretelling. That is important to realize as we learn from the prophets a faith that calls people home. We cannot foretell who God has chosen, and who will be saved, but we are called to forthtell to all, for Jesus died “once for all,” as Hebrews 7:25-27 proclaims:

 

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

 

It is our calling to make known the great love of God, made accessible through Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Let’s take the next action step so that we may learn how to have a faith that calls people to faith in Jesus Christ, calling them home to a right relationship with God through the forgiveness of their sins.

 

STEP #2 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: SOW THE GOOD SEED OF GOD’S GRACE

 

The prophetic ministry is important to the church of Jesus Christ today, as Ephesians 4:11 includes them in the list of gifts to the church that Jesus gave as He ascended to the right hand of the Father, “He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.” All five spiritually-gifted persons has the same purpose – to build the body of Christ in love through the equipping of the saints. Therefore, we cannot see “prophets” as a ministry of the past; they are a current reality, a function of the eldership of the church today – we must hear the message of the prophets, which has been unchanging through the millennia: “Come Home – Return to Me!” A powerful example of this is from Joel 2:12-13:

 

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.

 

Other examples of the prophets declaring this message are the following:

 

  • Jeremiah 4:1-2: “‘If you will return, O Israel,’ declares the Lord, ‘Then you should return to Me. And if you will put away your detested things from My presence, and will not waver, and you will swear, ‘As the Lord lives,’ In truth, in justice and in righteousness; then the nations will bless themselves in Him, and in Him they will glory.’”
  • Ezekiel 33:11: “Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’”
  • Hosea 12:6: “Therefore, return to your God, observe kindness and justice, and wait for your God continually.”

 

This is the same message of the last prophet of the Old Covenant, John the Baptist, who forthtold in Matthew 3:1-3:

 

Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “The voice of the one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!’”

 

As we transition to the next action step, be clear that John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ fulfilled the message of the prophets, as foretold by Malachi in Malachi 3:1-7:

 

“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness. … For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’

 

STEP #3 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: CARE FOR THE MATURING PLANT

 

Did you hear the God’s emphasis in Malachi 3? From the days of their forefathers, from the beginning of their rebellion, God has been calling His people to return to Him – to come Home! We hear this longing in Jesus’ words in Luke 13:34, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!” Therefore, Jesus intentionally added His voice to the tradition of the prophets, in Matthew 4:12-17:

 

Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

 

This is the gospel message by which we are saved, as we see clearly portrayed in Jesus’ prophetic ministry to the rebellious and far away, in Matthew 11:20-30:

 

Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.” At that time Jesus said, … Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

 

The message is to come Home to a right relationship with God through Jesus. Home is a place of rest, safety, peace, joy, and comfort – all the promises of God are ours in Christ! Without the call of the prophet, there could be no way for the wayward to return home, which means there would be no way for any of us to have salvation in the first place; nevertheless, mature into fruit-bearing trees who reap a harvest of praise. Let’s turn to the last action step.

 

STEP #4 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: REAP A HARVEST OF PRAISE

 

In the parable of the lost son in Luke 15:11-32, Jesus emphasized the heart of God through the prophetic message – Come Home! Through it, He called all prodigals (wayward children of Israel and gentiles) to return to a right relationship with the Father, and He reminded the church that this is our prophetic task to call the nations home. Siblings, brethren, we cannot allow ourselves to become older sibling – the religious elite, and self-righteous saints, who become an obstacle to the throne of grace through tradition and regulation. We are called to be like Jesus, who came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). We are called to be “ambassadors of Christ,” entrusted with the “ministry of reconciliation,” as Paul prophesied in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20:

 

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

 

Let us learn to walk in a faith that welcomes people home, as Peter did on Pentecost, in Acts 2:38-39, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” In doing so, we will see God bring many sons and daughters into His household, and our lives will reap a harvest of praise to the glory of God. The church will be built as His kingdom comes and His will is being done – to call His children back to their eternal Home, which is in Christ!
 
 

You can watch the message by clicking HERE.

 
 

FOOTNOTE:

 
[1] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 890.
 
 

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